Stoker.



J I l l l l ll WJH. H. STINEMAN.

STOKER.

I APPLICATION FILED DEC. 14, 1909. I I 970,660. Patented Sept.20, 1910.

v XMM /A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. H. STINEMAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT A, TAYLOR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

STOKER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Spt. 20, 1910- Application filed December 14, 1909. Serial No. 533,000.

the fire. In this class of devices the greatest eificienc and extent of fire surface are obtained, y providing a graduated fuel conveyer, by means of which a portion of the .fuel will be forced out of said conveyer throughout its entire length, so that an equal distribution of the fuel to the fire will be accom lished. By graduating the feed device a ong the length of the fire box in the direction of the feed, the fuel will be distributed and deposited along the length of the fire box under the fire in even quantities to maintain a uniform supply throughout the area thereof.

The main object of my invention is to provide a graduated conveyer to reduce the carryin capacity thereof toward the rear of the re-box, whereby a uniform distribution of the fuel in the fire-b0x will be maintained- Another object is to provide an improved conveyer so constructed as to permit of;

natural draft throughout the fire box.

Another object is to provide a conveyer so constructed and arranged in the fire box as to permit of the fuel, or ashes, being removed from the fire box by simply reversing the rotation of the conveyer.

,A further ob'ect of my invention is to provide means or manually operating the conveyer, when the fire is first started, until sufiicient steam is generated to operate the conveyer by power.

My invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of the parts and combination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth in the following specification and pointed out in detail in the claims.

In the accompanyin drawings,--Figure 1 is a sectional view 0 the fire box, showing parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, the hopper being in section.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

forming part of this specification, and in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, 1 designates a trou h supported in the front and rear walls of t e furnace and inclining upwardly. at its rear 'end to conform to the cone shape of the conveyer 2. The said cone-shaped conveyer 2 is hollow and 0 en at each end and has its rear end 'ourna ed in the bearing i3, and its front end 1ournaled in the front of the hop er 7. The'shaft 5 of the conveyor is ho low and provided throughout its entire length with a number of apertures which register with the apertures 6 in the conveyer. The ends of the hollow shaft 5 being open a natural draft will be created therethrough, the same bein evenly distributed in the fire.- boxthroug i the a ertures 6. The air circulating throu h furnace to the rear end, thus reducin' its carrying ca acity toward the rear 0 the fire box w ich will cause the fuel to be forced over the sides of the trough 1 as it is carried along the said trough, thereby producing a uniform distribution of the fuel over the grate 20 throu hout the entire length of the fire box. T e fire resting on the top of the conveyer will keep the trough l constantlfyl 1 filled and cause the conveyor to feed the el u over both sides of the trou h uniform y throughout its entire lengfi'i.

In the bottom of the neck 8 of the hopper, is a door 9 hin ed to the furnace and held up in its norma by a spring catch 10. T1118 door 9 may be 0 ened to remove any hard or lumpy object rom the hopper, or, when it is desired to draw the fire, or fuel, from the fire box, the fire or fuel being drawn from the fire box by simply reversing therotation of the conveyer.

On the front end of the shaft 5' 1s a gear wheel 11 which meshes with the worm 12 on the power shaft 13. This shaft 13 is driven by means of power transmitted to the pulley 14. .On the opposite end of the shaft 13 I- have provided a crank 15 by means of which the said shaft 13 may be operated when the fire is started and until sufficient steam is generated to ,drive said shaft by power.

A plunger '16 has its rear end' pivoted to a lug 17 on the side of the hopper, and its front end projecting through an opening 18 in the neck ofithe hopper. Alink 19 connects the said plunger with the gear wheel 11 and as the latter rotates it operates the front end of said plunger in and out of the opening 18. This plunger operates to prevent any hard or lumpy substance from remaining in or choking the conveyer as it rotates. The plunger 16 also acts as a cutoff to hold the coal against anybackward movement in the event the weight of the coal 7 is greater in the fire box than in the hopper.

. In the operation of my invention, the fuel is thrown into the hopper 7 and falls down into the conveyer and is carried into the fire box and forced u under the fire and uniformly distribute 'along the entire length of the fire box. By feeding the fuel to the fire box from under the fire, all gases will be consumed and a more perfect combustion produced, resulting in a great saving of fuel,

and economy in operation. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I

1. In an'underfeed furnace, the combination with a fire-box, a concaved trough in said fire box, said trough tapering toward its rear end, a hopper connected with said trough, a hollow cone-shaped screw conveyer extending into said fire-box and having a number of apertures therein leading into the fire-box, a gear-wheel on said conveyer, a power shaft having a worm thereon in mesh with said gear-wheel, a plunger having one end projecting into said hopper and adapted to move between the flights ofthe conveyer whereby the fuel is held against any backward movement when the screw rotates, and

a link connecting said plunger with the said gear-Wheel.

2.. In an underfeed furnace, the combination with a fire-box, a trough within said fire box, a hopper connected with the trough, a graduated screw conveyer extending from said hopper into the fire box, a gear wheel on the conveyer shaft, a driven shaft having ing into said fire box, a gear-wheel on the conveyer shaft, 9. power shaft having a worm in mesh with said gear wheel, a plunger having one end projecting into said conveyer and adapted to move between the flights of the conveyer whereby the fuel is held against any backward movement when the screw rotates, and a link connecting said plunger with said gear-wheel.

4:. In an underfeed furnace,-the combination with a firebox, a hopper outside of said fire box, a screw conveyer leading from said hopper into said fire box, a gear-wheel on the conveyer shaft, a power shaft having a worm in mesh with said gear wheel, a plunger having one end projecting into said hopper and adapted to move between the flights of the conveyer whereby the fuel is held against any backwardmovement when the screw rotates, and a link connecting said plunger with said gear wheel.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. H. STINEMAN.

Witnesses:

CHAPIN A. FERGUSON, ROBERT C. RHODES. 

